Christine of France, Duchess of Savoy (1608–63)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medal, crafted by Guillaume Dupré in 1635, portrays Christine of France (1608–1663), Duchess of Savoy, in a finely detailed profile view. Measuring just 2½ inches (64 mm) in diameter it exemplifies the intimate scale of 17th-century French medals and plaquettes—small, collectible sculptures prized by nobility and scholars alike. Dupré, the esteemed royal medallist working in Paris, was renowned for his precise renditions of royal likenesses, capturing Christine's noble bearing with classical elegance. Christine, daughter of King Henry IV of France and sister to Louis XIII, married Victor Amadeus I of Savoy in 1619, becoming a pivotal figure in European politics. By 1635, as regent for her young son Charles Emmanuel II amid the Thirty Years' War, she navigated alliances between France and Savoy with shrewd diplomacy. This medal likely commemorates her influence, reflecting the era's tradition of using portrait medals to honor stateswomen and affirm dynastic power. Bronze, with its warm patina and durability, was ideal for these portable artworks, often worn as jewelry or displayed in cabinets of curiosities. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection (gift of Ogden Mills, 1925), it invites us to appreciate the artistry of miniature sculpture and the enduring legacy of Renaissance-inspired portraiture in Baroque France.

About the Artist

Guillaume Dupré · 1579–1640

**Guillaume Dupré (1579–1640)** Guillaume Dupré, born in Sissonne near Laon, emerged as one of France's premier sculptors and medallists during the transition from Renaissance to Baroque art. He studied under the renowned sculptor Barthélemy Prieur, marrying Prieur's daughter Madeleine in 1600 and later fathering Abraham Dupré, who followed in his footsteps as a medallist. His early talent caught...